A Modest Proposal or Happiness is a warm gun

The recent tragedy in Orlando brought gun control back into the spotlight. Immediately, liberals over reacted and started taking about what they perceive as needed gun control legislation, some even previously endorsed by the NRA. Simultaneously, the gun lobby, NRA and Donald Trump – the great hope of America – reacted in the other direction, mobilizing their followers to make sure there were no restrictions on gun ownership in the USA. After all the Second Amendment is the most pressing issue in the US today.

This is a recurring cycle. A massacre happens in the United States. Amidst the sadness over our loss and senseless violence, some people immediately blame the ease of access to guns in the country. Those who oppose any legislation in regards to guns voice concerns over terrorism, mental health and the phase of the moon, for guns themselves do not harm others. Politicians posture about making changes, while the NRA funds opposition. After much handwringing and rhetoric, nothing happens. Slowly the cry for gun control legislation quiets a bit and other items dominate the news cycle.

Nothing happens until the next tragedy and then it is only talking points that lead nowhere. Columbine, Aurora, Newtown, Charleston, Orlando. Einstein said that insanity is “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” It is time to change our actions and end the insanity.

These arguments over guns, take away from the more important issues facing our country and our world. We should focus on what we prioritize as important, and clearly that is not gun legislation.
The Second Amendment of the US Constitution gives Americans the right to bear arms and form free, albeit well regulated, militias. Previously, the Supreme Court ruled that the right to bear arms does not mean that there can be no regulation or legislation over guns and other arms. I’d like to propose that we abolish that Supreme Court ruling and we address the gun issue in a way that will remove it from the public discussion forever.

I propose that gun ownership be mandatory in the USA. It can be done in such a way to spur the economy, reduce the distractions that take away from the larger issues facing this world, and unify the US into a new, more effective society. With a few minor tweaks to how guns are bought and sold, this issue becomes moot.

Once that Supreme Court ruling is overturned, we define “arms” as used in the Second Amendment as “weapons”. Period. All Weapons will be deregulated.

Guns will no longer be bought and sold as they have been

The US Government will be the sole purchaser of guns in the US. Individual citizens may not buy or sell guns. The US will work with US manufacturers of weapons to determine how many guns are needed and will be the exclusive buyer of guns. A profit margin will be guaranteed to the manufacturer. All guns (and their components) must be designed, manufactured and distributed solely in the US.

Because weapons cannot be bought and sold, does not mean that there won’t be a pipeline to criminals. But, because every good guy will have a gun, criminals now know that any action that they take could, and probably will, lead to violence. Many criminals will be killed trying to commit crimes, reducing the crime rate further than the simple deterrent of knowing there are weapons in every home and business. Of course a few citizens will be casualties, but compared the innocent victims of recent massacres, these people will be martyrs to gun deregulation and hailed as heroes. A new national holiday will be created in their honor, so that everyone can celebrate their personal sacrifice for gun ownership. Society has already deemed that the death of 50 or so innocent civilians at any time is an acceptable cost, a national day of celebration, and relief from work seems appropriate.

As importantly, because US guns and weapons cannot be sold outside the US, there will be no fear of terrorist and US enemies gaining weapons to use against us. What this also means is that we, as the US, can tell who our enemies are by who supplies our enemies with weapons. This will galvanize and focus our military, increasing efficiencies.

The US Department of Arms will distribute weapons to citizens

There will be a new government department that is solely focused on arms. They will oversee the gun manufacturers to make sure they make appropriate profits and adjust the profit margin up or down to be reflective of the economy. The gun manufactures, their employees, their executives and their distributors will make a good income, but they will not be allowed to make super profits or become robber barons. Prices will be set annually, and there will be significant oversight making sure there are no abuses.

The US Department of Arms will be a large government branch. It will have armies of distribution workers, transportation options and economic over-sight analysts. As this is all in support of making sure every citizen has the arms they are entitled to, this is the ultimate constitutional process. This will reinforce each citizen’s understanding of the US Constitution and their belief in our federal government.

Economic Benefits

The new US Department of Arms will create a new economic growth cycle. First, staffing the new government agency will add tens of thousands of positions immediately. While supporters of smaller government might be initially resistant, once people see that the department only distributes the guns mandated by this proposal and provides minimal oversight to distribution, redistribution, guaranteed gun manufacturer profitability and product quality, those issues should be overcome. The rise in demand for truck drivers, maintenance workers and logistic experts will be a boon to the economy, staving off any looming recession.

Clearly, there will be no more gun stores. But there will be a call for more shooting ranges, weapons training, kill tactics, self-defense and ammunition. Overall, there will be more opportunities created. Arms maintenance, safety and shooting will be new required subjects in our school, increasing the demand for vocational teachers.

Additionally, as the US weapons manufacturers will see their increased market place, they will expand, as will their suppliers. A national think tank estimates the growth in jobs to be over 2 million in each of the next 15 years.

Arms will be distributed throughout a citizen’s life

Starting at the age of 1, US citizens will start receiving their weapons according to a detailed life plan. No rational person will ever want for a weapon. The selfish and greedy will always want more, but this will be a level playing field. Much like aging, one’s weapon cache will grow over time and citizens will have the ability to modify their arsenal. Initially people will receive their Arms at major life milestone – age 13, graduating High School, age 18, age 21 and every 10 years starting at age 30. Extra arms will be issued upon marriage, birth of children, starting a career and opening a business.

There will be opportunities to add additional weapons for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, Confirmation, Baptism, religious conversion, Quinceañera and other milestones.

On a citizen’s 16th birthday they will also be given 3 hand grenades. The only weapons not distributed to the average citizen will be nuclear weapons. Those will be distributed to local, state and national officials to be used at their discretion. As they have been elected to do the will of the people, it makes sense that they should be in a position to exercise whatever that will turns out to be.

This begs the question of what happens to arms when a citizen passes on or leaves the country. They may leave their weapons to a family member or members or bequeath them to an approved Militia. If there are no arrangements made, their weapons will be collected and redistributed.

Well Regulated Militias

As the Second Amendment does call for the existence and formation of well-regulated Militias, there will be no hindrances allowed to prevent their formation. Once a Militia is formed, it will be acknowledged by the government and given and extra 2 arms per member. Weapons will be distributed semi-annually based on membership increases, insuring each Militia has the enough arms to be effective.

There will be no significant requirements to form a Militia and they can be formed for any and every purpose. Some purposes include local defense, border defense, racial defense, religious defense, terrorist hunting and perhaps illegal immigrant deterrence. Each Militia will determine what well regulated means to them as the government will not interceded, but will support each Militia equally.

, there will probably be Militias for the Jehovah Witnesses, the Catholic Church, various White Supremacist factions, Rotary, the ACLU, the Clampers, NAACP, Greenpeace, PETA, the Hell’s Angels, AARP, Mensa and other cultural free thinkers. Clearly, not every Militia will see eye to eye with every other Militia. Over time, it is anticipated that there may be small skirmishes between these groups, but as this is by-product of allowing for free Militias, it is to be expected and accepted.

Legal Changes

Clearly, there will need to be some legal changes. Open carry will be made legal across all venues. School children will be mandated to take a weapon to school and no business may bar a patron carrying a weapon. There will be good guys with guns everywhere: in schools, churches, bars and casinos.

Self-protection and stand your ground laws will be expanded in light of the increased weapons in society. There is no need for the courts to get bogged

Non-citizens may not own or carry a gun in the US. This may help some the refugee concerns that are cropping up. If anyone gets wind of a non-citizen with a weapon, they will be encouraged to report them to the police, so that the matter can be addressed appropriate.

Societal Benefits

As with any major change, there will several changes in society and many will occur quickly. As everyone will carry arms, though some may choose not to, there will be more deaths. Guns do not cause deaths, people do and people will die. Those with mental health issues will probably be eliminated in the early days. As they often intimidate and provoke others, they will most likely be killed in a series of “stand your ground” and self-defense events. This will reduce the need for mental health efforts and free up professionals for more important and serious work.

In every society there are those that are clumsy and haphazard. A great many of the uncoordinated and unobservant will ultimately either be killed through a series events placing them in avoidable harm’s way. As these events could have easily been avoided, the dead will be a fault. Some people won’t learn to use and care for their weapons. The lack of attention will back fire on many, leading to their self-destruction.

There will inevitably more children dying. Children often make poor decisions; some will choose weapons to solve their problems. It is anticipated that bullies, braggarts and the socially inept will heavily impacted. This will help improve the adults in society in later years as various problems are eliminated before they can start. These events have the potential to improve the school system and education in the US as distractions and overcrowded conditions decrease.

Well-meaning and oblivious parents will probably meet an untimely end. There is already a noticeable amount of toddlers accidently killing adults. There is no reason for this pattern to dissipate in the near term.

Having arms on hand will provide alternatives to the lonely, elderly and terminally ill. Over time, the number of people in these situations will find new ways to eliminate their personal issues, improving our society little by little.

In all the various scenarios that occur, some poor souls who should be shining examples in society will be eliminated. These citizens will be martyrs. Their names will be engraved on the various weapon depositories and monuments erected as reminders of how important the Second Amendment is. Their sacrifices will be immortalized and appreciated.

Ultimately, these deaths will be the new millennium’s Darwinian exercise. There will be a significant thinning of the herd and only the strong will survive. This will be the ultimate technology aided natural selection, leading to a leaner, stronger US. Guns will not be our focus, real problems can be focused on and our quality of life improved. Isn’t that what we really want?

Today’s ideas are brought to you by John Lennon, Mark David Chapman. and the NRA. Stay armed America.